Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Dan Royal
Observation Date:
January 14, 2024
Submitted:
January 14, 2024
Zone or Region:
West South
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Crystal: Crystal lakes, bowla bowl, sheep lake couloir, sourdough gap

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
No

Observations

3 way exit chute had a slide that looked pro patrol triggered, bowla bowl was wind loaded but firm enough to not cause shooting cracks on up track, sheep lake couloir was loaded at top but didn’t slide when skiing, very weird wind transport where even same slope would be loaded in one spot and soft powder in another, saw a large natural crown on sheep lake side of sourdough

Media

Crown on sheep lake, large natural slide that seemed to propagate across and down the slope towards sourdough
Sheep lake couloir
Cornice naturally dropped on boxcar in morning sun, caused small isolated release

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
Seems many natural slides already
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